| The novel To Kill A Mockingbird revolves | | | | of prejudice. He is then later shot for |
| around a young girl named Jean Louise Finch | | | | trying to escape this unjust ruling. Mr. |
| who goes by the nicknamed | | | | Robinson just like a mockingbird is shot for |
| “Scout”. Scout experiences | | | | no reason at all.The second theme which I |
| different events in her life that | | | | will discuss is “coming of age”. |
| dramatically change her life. Scout and her | | | | The “Coming of age” theme |
| brother Jem are being raised by their father, | | | | basically entails a character who evolves to |
| a lawyer named Atticus and a housekeeper | | | | a new level of self awareness through his or |
| named Calpumia in a small town in the south. | | | | her experiences in life. This is clearly the |
| At this point in time in the South racism and | | | | case with Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. An |
| discriminations towards black was a big issue | | | | example of Scout’s “coming of |
| . The story begins when Scout is 6 years old, | | | | age” can be seen when she meets her |
| and her brother is about to enter the 5th | | | | friend Dill. Dill comes from a broken home |
| grade. That summer Scout and her brother meet | | | | and lives somewhere beyond Alabama. Scout who |
| a young boy named Dill who comes from | | | | comes from a good home is awaken to the |
| Mississippi to spend the summers there. They | | | | different quality of life that exist and is |
| become fascinated with a man named | | | | able to come to a conclusion that life exist |
| "Boo" Radley, a man in his thirties | | | | beyond the world she knows. Through these |
| who has not been seen outside of his home in | | | | experiences she grows more tolerant of |
| years, mainly because of his suppressed | | | | others, learning how to "climb into |
| upbringing. They have an impression of Mr. | | | | another person's skin and walk around in |
| Radley as being this large ugly and evil man. | | | | it." On her first day of school she |
| Then comes the trial. Scout’s father | | | | finds that just like with Dill there are both |
| becomes a defense attorney for a black man, | | | | social and poor classes in society, some are |
| Tom Robinson, who is falsely accused of | | | | respectable and others not. She also learns |
| raping a white women. This has a big affect | | | | that her father is an extra-ordinary man, |
| on Scout. During this trial she gets teased | | | | fighting for a Negro's rights in court. |
| by friends because her father was helping | | | | During the trial of Tom Robinson Scout learns |
| this black man. Scout starts to see the | | | | about equality and inequality and finally |
| racism that exist. During the trial Scout and | | | | about racial prejudice. By the final chapters |
| her brother and close friend Dill witness the | | | | of the novel, Scout goes to another |
| trial. Even though they are young they can | | | | “coming of age experience.” She |
| see that Mr. Robinson is innocent. Even | | | | learns that good people can still suffer |
| though Mr. Robinson’s innocence was | | | | injustice. She realizes this when she |
| clear even in the eyes of kids, Mr. Robinson | | | | see’s Tom Robinson suffer injustice |
| was still found guilty. Later in an attempt | | | | even though they did nothing to deserve it. |
| to escape, Mr. Robinson is shot dead. Scout | | | | She discover that the courts does not always |
| is extremely disappointed at the verdict and | | | | result in justice. In the end after all of |
| even more at the death of Mr. Robinson and | | | | Scout’s experiences and discoveries we |
| realizes the injustice that exist. Later in a | | | | get the sense that she will not follow the |
| cowardly attempt by the alleged rape victims | | | | prejudice views which her society upholds. In |
| father, tries to kill Scout and her brother | | | | the end Scout had matured and grown more as a |
| in order to get even with her father for | | | | kid, than many adults will do in there |
| making him look back in court. This is when | | | | lifetime.The third and final theme which I |
| Mr.Radley makes an appearance again an stabs | | | | will discuss is “Justice”. In the |
| their attacker. Even though Mr. Radley kills | | | | story To Kill a Mockingbird I feel,the |
| a man he is not tried for murder because he | | | | author, Ms. Lee portrays true justice as |
| was defending the Scout and her brother. | | | | being best seen through the eyes of the |
| Finally some justice. This gives Scout some | | | | innocent. In the story Scout and her brother, |
| hope that is a chance for improvement in this | | | | being the innocent,can clearly see the |
| unjust world.(Discussion of main themes in To | | | | injustice being done to Mr. Robinson. In |
| Kill A Mockingbird)There are many different | | | | contrary to Scout and her brother other |
| themes present in To Kill a Mockingbird by | | | | people in society more specifically the older |
| Harper Lee. The first theme which I will | | | | people in the town, the people who have lived |
| discuss is “Prejudice”. The whole | | | | through different experiences, become blinded |
| story revolved around the prejudice views of | | | | when it comes to true justice. Or maybe they |
| this Southern community. The whole reason why | | | | are not blinded but just choose to ignore it. |
| the trial was going on was because of people | | | | This is clearly seen when they sentence an |
| views towards blacks in the south. Since the | | | | innocent man to death. This ignorance of |
| alleged rape victim’s father has such a | | | | justice can be blamed on the prejudice views |
| prejudice view towards black, he is | | | | which are present and eventually instilled in |
| embarrassed that his daughter was actually | | | | society in the south. So I feel that Harper |
| flirting with a black man. To combat this he | | | | Lee is connecting justice with innocence to a |
| falsely accuses the innocent Mr. Robinson of | | | | certain extent. In my opinion Harper Lee |
| rape. If it wasn’t for the prejudice | | | | portrays justice as being easily detected. |
| view which existed in the south the | | | | The reason I say this is even the young |
| accusation would had never been brought | | | | justice. The problem is society can instill |
| against Mr. Robinson. These prejudice views | | | | beliefs that can act as a veil and blind the |
| in the south created a double standard of | | | | people from justice. The only way to uncover |
| justice. With all the negative points that | | | | this veil is through people like Atticus who |
| can be found in the story in respect to | | | | can pass his morality and nobility to the |
| prejudice, there was a bright spot when it | | | | young and the “blinded”(Would I |
| came to the prejudice issue. This “ray | | | | recommend this book?)I would definitely |
| of light” came in the form of | | | | recommend people to read the book To Kill a |
| Scout’s father Atticus. Atticus | | | | Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I found it to be |
| represented hope. Hope that good people still | | | | an interesting and powerful book. I feel the |
| exist. Even in a society filled with hate. | | | | book does a great job in portraying the |
| Atticus represented the hope that one day | | | | extreme prejudice that existed in the south |
| things can changeThe “Prejudice” | | | | at that time. I feel this book makes a |
| theme also ties in well with the title of the | | | | powerful statement on how justice can be |
| book “To Kill A Mocking Bird.” In | | | | altered through racism. I also think that the |
| Chapter 10, Scout and Jem Finch get air | | | | themes found in the book are themes which can |
| rifles for Christmas. Scouts father tells her | | | | still be found in our current society and |
| and her brother that it is a sin to kill a | | | | that makes it the more interesting. You can |
| mockingbird because mockingbirds are harmless | | | | even make a case that prejudice still has an |
| creatures who do nothing but sing for our | | | | effect in our legal system today. So if you |
| enjoyment. In the story To Kill a Mockingbird | | | | are looking for a powerful book of |
| Mr. Robinson is clearly the “Mocking | | | | “coming of age” and the battle |
| Bird”. He is a good man who has never | | | | for justice I would highly recommend To Kill |
| harmed anyone and is figuratively and | | | | a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.You may visit |
| literally shot by society because of | | | | and for instant access to over 45,000 plus |
| prejudice. The jurors sentence him to death | | | | term papers and essays. Thousands of FREE |
| not because he did anything wrong but because | | | | papers are also available. |